Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Durjaya, Urvaśī, and the Expiation at Vārāṇasī

Genealogy and Sin-Removal through Viśveśvara

Devanagari script

तत्र तत्राप्सरोवर्या दृष्ट्वा तं सिंहविक्रमम् / कामं संदधिरे घोरं भूषितं चित्रमालया

Transliteration

tatra tatrāpsarovaryā dṛṣṭvā taṃ siṃhavikramam / kāmaṃ saṃdadhire ghoraṃ bhūṣitaṃ citramālayā

Translation

Hier und dort erblickten die erlesensten Apsaras ihn, dessen Kraft wie die eines Löwen war, und wurden von heftiger Begier ergriffen, da er mit einer wunderbaren Girlande geschmückt dastand.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• तत्र: there and there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• अप्सरः-वर्याः: the excellent apsarases
• अप्सरः-वर्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: वर्याः अप्सरसः (excellent apsarases)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; धातु: दृश्

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सिंह-विक्रमम्: of lion-like prowess
• सिंह-विक्रमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष: सिंहस्य इव विक्रमः यस्य (lion-like valor)

• कामम्: desire/love
• कामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• संदधिरे: they fixed/placed (upon him)
• संदधिरे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्काल), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्ग: सम्-

• घोरम्: fierce
• घोरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कामम्’ विशेषणम्

• भूषितम्: adorned
• भूषितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भूष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कामम्’ विशेषणम्

• चित्र-मालया: with a splendid garland
• चित्र-मालया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: चित्रा माला (variegated garland)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) recounting the episode to the sages (Naimisharanya frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Apsaras
• Kama (desire)
• Sinha-vikrama (lion-like hero)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

Indirectly, by showing how powerful sensory attraction (kāma) arises upon perception; the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching contrasts such fluctuating desire with the steady Atman known through restraint and discernment.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the obstacle of kāma (passion) triggered by sense-contact; in the Kurma Purana’s yogic framework (including Pāśupata-oriented discipline), this points to the need for indriya-nigraha (sense-control), vairāgya (dispassion), and steadiness of mind.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

This specific verse is narrative and does not explicitly mention Shiva–Vishnu unity; its takeaway aligns with the Purana’s shared Shaiva–Vaishnava ethic that mastery over desire is essential for devotion and liberation.